The degrowth movement is based on the ecological economic theory developed by Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen, a brilliant Romanian mathematician and economist. Its basic idea is to progressively reduce production to restore the balance between humans and the natural world. This would lead to a more sustainable social dynamic.

Growth is perhaps the number one goal of all economies in the modern world. It’s a mantra of capitalism. The idea is increasing production and consumption. However, unfettered growth has undesired consequences. The first is a systematic attack on nature and the natural processes. The second is a notable decrease in the quality of life of humans and other living things.

According to the degrowth movement, human beings should work less and have more free time. That should be the foundation of a new model in which production is regulated in a way that would satisfy our needs without destroying the environment or turning humans into robots.

“The main purpose of downscaling as a slogan is to mark clearly the abandonment of the insane objective of growth for growth’s sake, which is driven only by unbridled search for profit for the holders of capital.”

-Serge Latouche-

Degrowth of consumption

These days, most of us spend most of our time working. In the past, people worked to meet their basic needs. That isn’t true anymore. Over time, humans have developed new needs which are all associated with consumption.

For many people, a “good” job is one that allows you to increase your purchasing power. We want to have more so we can buy more. It doesn’t matter if what we buy is relevant or useful or not. A few decades ago, people only needed one kind of soap to clean themselves. Now, we “need” five or more! There’s hand soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

Purchasing power has also markedly increased in many societies. However, that doesn’t mean that people are happier or more fulfilled. In a study carried out in Canada, researchers asked a group of volunteers if they thought they were happier than their parents. Only 44% of the group answered yes, in spite of the fact that purchasing power had increased by 60%.

The foundation of degrowth

The world has reached a point where the imbalance between production and nature has become dangerous. We have doubts about the availability of certain resources for future generations. It seems that we’re doing something wrong. Degrowth believes that the problem is unbridled production. Consequently, the degrowth movement proposes eight solutions for the modern world:

Solutions for unchecked growth

Reevaluate: People who believe in regrowth think that we need to change our values. We have to stop valuing individualism and consumerism above all. Instead, we should focus on cooperation and the humanist meaning of life.

Reconceptualize: This has to do with redefining ideas like poverty, wealth, necessity, and consumption. As a society, we need to adopt a new perspective on scarcity and abundance.

Restructure: We have to orient production towards different goals, like the protection of the environment and human happiness. We should opt for eco-efficiency and simplicity. As a society, we have to let go of the idea that more is better.

Relocate: Degrowth believes in the importance of a regional economy. Multinational production is harmful. Instead, the focus should be on finding a way for each region to produce enough to meet its needs.

Redistribute: This means becoming more community-minded and making sure that everyone has enough to meet their basic needs. That would require reducing the purchasing power of the big, global consumers and avoiding ostentatious consumption.

Reduce: This is degrowth applied to production and consumption, which includes working hours. It implies decreasing the consumption of medication and predatory tourism.

Reuse: This has to do with increasing the lifespan of different products. We need to change the culture of disposable things.

Recycle: This means appropriately dealing with waste, avoiding products that can’t be recycled, and taking responsibility for the trash we produce.

New paradigms for a new era

In conclusion, it’s obvious that our current economic system isn’t making us happy. On the contrary, it’s causing neurosis, alienation, and inequality. New paradigms, like degrowth, are taking hold in the world and propose a kinder and more human direction.

If you have a lost childhood from growing up as a child of emotionally immature parents, you probably have some big scars on your heart. Because in this kind of family dynamic children end up taking on what are really adult…

Learning to disagree is a very useful art. With it, you can avoid falling into a mere discussion, effectively managing the speaker to avoid conflict and define your position with elegance. We can accomplish all of this without being offensive…

Sometimes even the simplest of problems can turn into a huge ordeal. This can happen because you’ve had a bad day, although having difficulty solving a problem is often due to your own mental attitude towards the problem. Applying solutions that have worked in the past…

We all know what physical immobility is, but what about when it’s mental? This seems to be the most difficult to perceive and solve. Mental immobility can range from total inaction to small hesitation and indecision. Have you ever experience this? How…

Let’s act as if all the good will embrace us, because then it will reach us. Let’s act as if we are already happy so that our emotions can convince us that we are. Believe with strong conviction each day…

”In 1933, US president Roosevelt was assassinated and the country did not recover from the Great Depression. The United States maintained an isolationist policy and they did not intervene in the Second World War. Without the intervention from the United…

Many parents may find it strange that soda can increase aggressive behavior in their children. Well, as odd as it may seem, science says it’s true. Several studies have demonstrated the link between soda and aggressiveness in children. Experts say…

Some people fill your heart with the purest joy. They’re people who try to make your life less complicated and always think about your well-being. They’re what we call positive people, who simply make our lives better. These people are…

The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by three membranous layers: the meninges. The three meninges are the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. The last two comprise the leptomeninges. The dura mater is also called the pachymeninx.…

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is located in the anterior region of the hypothalamus and contains about 20,000 neurons. It works as your internal clock, regulating your sleep/wake cycles. Specifically, it receives stimuli through your retina which allows you to be more or…

The content in this publication is presented for informative purposes only. In no sense is this information intended to provide diagnoses or act as a substitute for the work of a qualified professional. For this we recommend that you contact a reliable specialist.

The content in this publication is presented for informative purposes only. In no sense is this information intended to provide diagnoses or act as a substitute for the work of a qualified professional. For this we recommend that you contact a reliable specialist.